Mid-Atlantic News

Okay, so we advertised it as the Dog Days of August Hike, full well expecting temperatures and humidity in the 90s.  Much to everyone's delight, the temps were in the 80s and a breeze accompanied the hikers all along the trails.  Two doggies, Gus and Shadow, led the way for the 14 hikers.  The rolling hills at Sky Meadows State Park offered beautiful vistas at several turns along the hike. 

One of our members couldn't do the hike because of a foot injury but she happened upon the graduation ceremony for the Youth Conservation Corps at Sky Meadows.  Nine young women had just finished three weeks of fence building, bridge repairs and trail maintenance.  Their proud families and park staff honored them for their achievements in a lovely ceremony in the barn at the park.

The weather forecast called for hot and humid weather, but we were undeterred.  We met at the Takoma Park Community Center at 10 and were soon cycling down Maple Avenue to the Sligo Creek bike path.  Lucky for us, the path is shaded almost the entire way up to Wheaton Regional Park and Brookside Gardens.  We made an unscheduled stop at the flea market at the outdoor skating rink, but alas, no great bargains were to be found. 

We ate our lunch along the banks of Pine Lake and then strolled through Brookside Gardens in its full summer glory.  At the gazebo overlooking the pond we counted at least 15 turtles swimming or sunning.  The rose garden dazed us with the brilliant colors of dozens of varieties of roses.  The giant sundial delighted us all and told the right time to boot.

The ride home, as they say, was all downhill from here. Literally, that is, not figuratively.  Everyone agreed this bike ride is a keeper and Brookside Gardens is a treat in every season.

Women Outdoors Mid-Atlantic took its first steps as a regional chapter of Women Outdoors with a five mile hike today, National Trails Day, at Sugarloaf Mountain in Frederick County, MD.  Ten women participated in this inaugural event of our chapter.  Mountain laurel bedecked the entire trail and a surprise sighting of foxglove delighted the hikers.

The sky cleared by lunchtime, and we enjoyed a beautiful view of the valley from the overlook.  Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches proved to be the hands-down favorite for our hikers. 

Women outdoor enthusiasts take note:  A regional chapter of Women Outdoors will be starting in the Mid-Atlantic later this spring.  We welcome women from Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Delaware and West Virginia to join us as we seek adventure from the Atlantic Ocean to the Shenandoah Mountains. Join Women Outdoors and register for the Mid-Atlantic region to receive the latest updates on this new chapter.